Spindle.



No. 687,329. Patentad Nov. 26, 1901.- G. B. McCRACKEN.

SPINDLE.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1896.)

( no Model.)

QXf-M Mm/J m ro-umarwunmmou n c the spindle contained therein.

' UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE. v

GEORGE B. MOCRACKEN, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HUBER CLARK, OF WILLIMANTIC,CONNECTICUT.

SPINDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 687,329, dated November 26, 1901. Application filed October 8, 1896- serial No. 6083288. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown thatI, GEORGE B. MCCRAOKEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Willimantic, in the .county of Windham and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spindles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact desoription,whereby anyone skilled in the art can make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of spindles known in the art as self-centeringspindies; and the object of my invention is to provide a spindle of this class that shall readily and accurately adjust itself to an unbalanced load.

To this end my invention consists in the details of the several parts making up the spindle as a whole and in the combination of such parts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in central Vertical section of a spindle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of a bolster and the counterpoise device.

In many of the self-centering spindles of the prior art springs have been employed as a cushion on which a flange on the bolster rests, the springs providing for lateral movement to a limited degree of the bolster and This allows the spindle to automatically adjust itself to an unbalanced load and prevent gyration. In the use of such springs, however, it has been found by experiment that it is practically impossible to so locate the spring that the spindle shall be equally sensitive to lateral pressure in all directions, there being a greater amount of tension to the spring at certain points than at others.

In the use of my improvement springs are entirely avoided, and means are provided whereby the spindle will readily adjust itself to an unbalanced load and be equally sensitive to lateral pressure in all directions.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 denotes the bolster case or support for the bolster; 2, the bolster; 3, the spindle, and 4 the sleeve-whirl secured to the spindle. The bolster-case may be supported in the usual manner, asin an opening through a spindlerail, and the spindle is driven by means of a belt in engagement with the sleeve-whirl, as is common in devices of this class.

The bolster 2 is constructed to support the spindle laterally, the spindle being free to turn therein, but to have no lateral movement, it having what is known as a running fit in the bolster. The bolster is closed at its lower end, forming a step or end bearing 5 for the spindle.

0n the outer side of the bolster is formed a curved surface 6 in engagement with the inner wall of the bolster-case 1. This curved surface is preferably formed near the upper part of the bolster and within an extension 7 of the bolster-case. This curved surface is struck on the arc of a circle and has a free tilting movement on the inner surface of the bolster-case, so that the bottom of the bolster may be moved laterally to a limited degree.

A bearing 8 is formed on the inner surface of the bolster-case near the bottom, this bear ing being in the form of a concave shoulder, and a counterpoise 9, having its outer surface at the upper end curved to correspond with the concave shoulder, is supported thereon. This counterpoise extends downward from the shoulder within the bolster-case to a considerable extent below the shoulder. A bolster-recess 10 is formed at the upper end of the counterpoise, in which rests the lower end of the bolster. This recess is preferably formed on the arc of a circle, the lower end of the bolster conforming to the shape of the recess.

It will be seen from the above description that an extremely-sensitive device is provided, the action of the counterpoise and the construction of the parts forming a lever of the first class, so that the counterpoise will readily and easily bring the spindle back to its normal position when an unbalanced load shall have been removed from the spindle.

The bearing of the bolster within the counterpoise has been shown herein as slightly below the bearing of the counterpoise in the bolster-case; but I do not wish to limit myself to any precise location of these two bearings relatively to each other.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a self-adjusting spindle, in combination, a, bolster-case, a bolster supported by the case, a counterpoise mounted in the bolster-oase and with its upper end engaging the lower end of the bolster,'and a spindle mounted within the bolster.

2. In a self-adjusting spindle, in combination, a bolster-ease having a ooncaved shoulder, a bolster mounted to tilt Within the case, a, spindle mounted in the bolster, and a counterpoise pivoted on the ooncaved shoulder Within the ease and with its upper end in engagement with the lower end of the bolster. 

